The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Per Aggregate Scores

At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a notable point of contention. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.

4. Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.